City News Room

The Mayor's Message

09/24/2018

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The Mayor's Message - 09.24.2018

You might have noticed we are not in the new Chambers yet and for those that do not know, we won't move to the new Chambers for a couple of months. So, when it is all done inside, then we will be able to do that. Unfortunately, Commissioner Gehrig still has to be on the phone without video. It will come.

In light of that, Finance and Auditors offices are on different floors in the new City Hall. Finance is on 3rd floor and Auditors is on 1st floor, just inside the main entrance. Visit Auditor’s to make payments for utility bills, parking tickets, special assessment payments, business licensing, liquor licensing, raffles, etc. Finance will process accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll and can answer budget and financial statement questions.

Fargo Cass Public Health is one of 20 recipients of the inaugural Barclay-Giel Seed Grants, a program funded by the Public Health Service Commissioned Officers Foundation for the Advancement of Public Health. The program received 300 applications that proposed a variety of methods to support community-based public health programs. Funds awarded to Fargo Cass Public Health will support the Harm Reduction Center.

Suzanne Schaefer, Public Health Nursing Coordinator, has accepted the position of Director of Nursing for Fargo Cass Public Health, where she has worked since 2015.

A reminder from Fargo Cass Public Health that it is important to receive an annual flu vaccine, which is the best way to reduce your risk of getting sick with seasonal flu and spreading it to others. Public Health will host flu-shot clinics at various senior centers in Fargo and at the Public Health building. For specific locations, dates and times contact Fargo Cass Public Health.

There are several events coming up at the Library as part of this year’s One Book, One Community reading project. On Tuesday, Karen Joan Kohoutek will present a talk about Welsh author Arthur Machen; George Frein will visit September 27th for a living history portrayal of Erich Remarque, a World War I soldier and author of “All Quiet on the Western Front;” and on October 2nd, children’s book author Elizabeth Raum will discuss her book “The Big Bold Adventurous Life of Lavinia Warren,” who was a teacher, a P.T. Barnum show entertainer, world traveler and the wife of Tom Thumb. Just in inrony, she was three feet tall and married to Tom Thumb. John, do you know how tall Tom Thumb was? No? Neither do I.

The Police Department welcomed five new officers last week at a swearing in ceremony. The Chief said he never gets tired of seeing the new officer’s excitement and how proud their parents and families are when they are sworn in. He is also grateful to the many employees in the department who take the time to go the ceremonies and welcome the new officers and their families. And that was within this Chambers as well until we get the new Chambers.

Officer Mike Clowers has continued with his project of the Police Department being a collection point for American flags that need to be retired because of condition. This gives the department a point of interaction with the community and again with the veterans groups and Scouts for the flag retirement ceremonies.

This is interesting. Fargo was ranked No. 19 on financial information site WalletHub’s list of 150 of the Best-Run Cities in America. WalletHub determined each city’s operating efficiency by creating a Quality of Service score based on 35 metrics measured against the city’s per-capita budget. The metrics spread across categories including financial stability, infrastructure, pollution, education, health, safety and economy. So out of 150 cities in the country, we are pretty good.